Automatic phonograph



April 19, 1932. T. w. SMALL 1,854,9

AUTOMAT I C PHONOGRAPH Filed July 21, 1930 s sh ets-sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.flan/rs n. JM/HA.

A TTORNEm Apr- 19; 1932. T" w SMALL 1,854,960.

AUTOMAT I C PHONOGRAPH A TTORNEYS.

April 19, 1932. T. w. sMALL AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed July 21, 1930 ssheets-s eet s INVENTOR.

7/70/10: 14 JM/YLL {M f, g 1

. ATTORNEYJ mane; Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS w.SHALL, F HUNTI'NGTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR' TO 'IHE'CAPEHABT COB- PORATION,OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATIOI N AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Applicationfiled July 21,1930. Serial li 469,502.

This invention relates to an automatic phonograph of the type wherein aplurality of disc records are carriedin a storage magazine and aresuccessively removed to a turn table for playing and, when played, arereturned to said storage magazine.

' The principal object of the-invention is to provide means whereby therecord-changing functions may b performed by mechanism having a smallnumber of moving parts and adapted to be assembled in a compact unitoccupying small space.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a phonograph whereina small or large number of records may be"placedin the machine at anyone time without interfering in any way with the operation thereof.

Another object of .the invention .is to provide improvements in 'themechanism for per-.

formin the various functions of an automatic p onogra h.

One feature 0 the invention resides in the novel form of apparat'usused-for placing the records in the storage magazine and removing thesame therefrom, This mechanism is such that the stackv of records in themagazine may be supported in such manner'that the lowermost recordisnot'distorted by. the

weight of the records above and issuchthat a large or small number ofrecords may be carried in the magazine without interfering with theoperation of the mechanism.

Another feature ofthe invention. resides in a novel form of carriageniechanisnr for transporting the records to the turn table for playing.-By means of this mechanism,- the records are carried to the turn-tablerather than being pushed theret oov'er a supporting surface. v

Another feature of t e invention resides in the novel means of removingthe records from the carriage mechanism when they have been delivered tothe turn table.

Another feature of the invention resides in the novel mechamsm usedforremoving a record from the turn table after playing.

Certain features of the apparatus herein disclosed but not claimed areshown and claimed in my copending applications, Serial No. 291,221,filed July 9, 1928; Serial No.

330,379, filed January 4,.11929; Serial No. 363,776, filed May 17 1929;Serial No. 386,-

609, filed August 17, 1929 and Serial No.

443,946, filed April 14, 1930. y

Other objects and features of theinvention will be apparent from theaccompanylng drawings and the following description and claims:

.Fig. 1 is a plan view of an automatic pho- 1 80 nograph embodying theinvention with parts in the position for playing a record. Fig. 2 is afront elevational View of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar elevational viewwith parts removed and parts shown in section to show other parts indetail. Fig. 4 is afront eleva tional view of a portion of the mechanismshown in Fig. 2 with the parts thereof in the position assumed at adifferent point in-the' record-changing cycle. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of several of the parts used in plac- Fig. 6 is a perspective viewshowing certain parts used in the removal of a record'from the turntable. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the record-storage magazine and partsadjacent thereto. Fig. 8' is an-elevational view partly in sectionillustrating apparatus used for manipulation of the tone ,arm during-achange of records. Fig. 9 is an elevationalviewof one j of the supportsfor the records in the storage magazine. Fig.10 is a wiring diagram ofelectrical'connections for operat-' ing the record-changing and turntable motors;

' Frame j v The frame work of the machine includes vertical framemembers 10 on the four cor-1 ners thereof, a pair of upper "longitudinalIframe m'embers ll and 11a and a pair-of.

upper transverse frame members 12 and 12a fastened to said cornermembers 10'adjacent the upper ends thereof. A pair of lower longitudinalframe members 13 and 13a and Y a pair ofv lower transverse frame members14 and 1411 are. connected to the corner members 10 adjacent their lowerends.

Power mechanism An-electric motor 15 is bolted to the rear side oftheframe and carries a driving pulhas a -downwardly-extending portionO'arrz'age moving mechanism The shaft 17 carries a sprocket 24 aboutwhichis trained a sprocket chain 25 also trained about a sprocket 26carried by a stub shaft 27. The stub shaft 27 is supported upon asuitable bearing carried by the frame member 11 and has fastened theretoa sprocket 28. A similar stub shaft 29 is also carried upon the framemember 11 and in turn carries a sprocket 30.. A chain 31 is trainedabout the sprockets 28 and 30. Thus rotation of shaft 17 by the motor 15causes movement of the chains 25 and 31 and this move ment is in thedirection of the,arrows inFigs. 2v and 3. A movable carriage 32 issupported by means of flanged rollers 33 .upon the frame members 11 and11a. The carriage 32 34 having a slotted opening 35 therein. Arectangular block 36 is pivotally carried by one of the links of chain31 and is adapted to engage the slotted opening 35. By this means,continuous movement of the chain 31 in the direction of the' arrowcauses reciprocating movement of the carriage 32 upon the frame members11 and 11a. A bar 37 is fastened to the downwardly-extending portion 34of the carriage 32 and is formed with an upwardly-extending end portion38 having a roller 39 attached thereto. The roller 39 is also adapted totravel upon the frame member 11. In the operation of changing records,the carriage 32 and bar '37 move from the position indicated in Fig. 2 apredetermined distance to the left, determined by the travel of theblock 36 upon chain 31 and are then returned to the position of Fig. 2.In this travel, certain portions of the carriage 32'and bar 37 engageand actuate certain of the record-manipulating mechanisms, as will bemore fully described hereinafter. The mechanism for starting andstopping the motor 15 to cause thecarriage travel will also behereinafter described in detail.

Mechanism for moving record from storage magazine to turn table a A.pair of transverse supports 40 are fastened to frame-members 13 and 13aand carry longitudinal supports 41 in turn carrying a stack of records42. A retaining member 43 has a semi-circular retaining portion 44extending about one side of the stack The said shaft of records and hasa pair of gauge portions 45 resting upon the uppermost record in thestack. The said gauge portions support the retaining member 43 upon thestac in such position that the upper edge of the retaining portion 44engages the edge of the second highest record in the stack so that thehighest record may be pushed from the stack over the edge of thesaidretaining portion while the remainder of the records are retained inthe stack. A link 46 is pivotally connected at one end to the retainingmember 43 and at the opposite end to a vertical member 47 fastened tothe frame members 11 and 13. A

similar link 48 is pivotally attached to the retaining member 43 at theopposite side and is pivotally attached at its opposite end to avertical member 49 fastened to the frame members 11a and 13a. By meansof these links, the retaining member 43 may be freely moved inasubstantially vertical direction but lateral movement thereof isprevented. Thus the retaining member 43 may perform its function whetherthere is a small or large number of records in the stack.

For removing the uppermost record from the stack, a record-engaging shoe50 is provided normally resting upon the uppermost surface of theuppermost record and having 1 a portion 51 extending-downwardly andengaging the rim of the said record. A link 52 is pivotally attached tothe said shoe and is in turn pivotally connected at its opposite end toan arm 53 in turn carried-upon a stub shaft 54. The link 52 isrelatively long and is substantially horizontally disposed so thatvertical movement of the shoe 50 is possible without material change inits lateral position. The shoe 50 is, therefore, adapted to rest uponthe uppermost. record in the stack at substantially the same lateralposition whether there is a small or large number of records in thestack. The stub shaft '54 .is suitably supported upon the frame member11a and carries an arm 55 in turn carrying a roller 56 upon its outerend. The roller 56 extends into the path of travel of adownwardly-extending portion 57 of the carriage 32. Thedownwardly-extending portion 57 'is formed with a curved surface 58adapted to engage the roller 56 at the proper time in the cycle-ofmovement of carriage 32.

means of this engagement, the roller 56 is elevated, thereby rocking thestub shaft 54 and arm 53 carried thereby to propel the shoe 50 to theright, referring to Fig. 3. In this movement of the shoe 50,.the topmostrecord of the stack is moved upon the stack a sufiicient distance tobring the leading edge thereof beyond the retaining portion 44 :of'

the retaining member 43 and to slip the said record from beneath thegauge members 45.

A pair of vertical rods 59 are fastened at their lower ends to oneiofthe transverse supports 40 and at their upper ends to brackets carried'by the frame members 11 and 11a. An elevator member 61 is associatedwith each of said rods and is free to slide vertically thereon. A pairof levers 62 are fastened at one end to a shaft 63 journaled upon thevertical members 47 and 49. Each of the levers 62 is fitted at its otherend with a slotted opening 64 engaging a pin 65 upon one of the elevatormembers 61. A vertical frame member 66 is fastened to the frame members11 and 13 and pivotally supports a bell crank 67 carrying a pin 68adapted to engage the lower edge of one of the levers 62. The oppositearm of the bell criank'67 carries a roller 69 adapted to engage thelowem edge of the bar 37. In the movement of the carriage 32, the bar 37travels to the left a suflicient distance to clear the roller 69 whichis thus free to move upwardly. The weight of the elevator members 61 andthe levers 62 acting upon the pin 68 rocks the bell crank 67 about itspivotal mounting, causing the roller 69 to move upwardly and permittingthe elevator mem; bers 61 to be dropped to a position beside the stackof records indicated iii dotted lines in Fig. 7. In the return of thecarriage 32, a bevelled end portion 70 of the bar 37 engages. the roller69, forcing the same downward. and causing the elevator members 61 to beupwardly moved to the position indicated in Fig. 3. The movement of theele-' vator 61 is so timed with the movement of the shoe 50 that theelevator members are first lowered, the shoe 50 is then moved to theright and retracted, bringing the uppermost record in the'stackto aposition above the elevator members 61 and the elevator members are thenraised to carry the record upward. The carriage 32 is fitted with a pairof inwardly extending record 4 supporting por tions 71, the uppersurfaces of which are at a slightly higher elevation than the uppersurfaces of the elevator members 61 at their highest point. Therecord-supporting members 71 are formed with bevelled'portions 72. Theelevation of the IQCOliCl by the elevators 61 takes placed before thecompletion of the return movement of the carriage 32. In the continuedmovement of the carriage, the bevelled portions 72 of the members71.engage the edge of the record and the record is lifted thereby fromthe elevators 61 and brought to rest upon the members 71. In thisaction, the upper surface of the record isengaged by a pair ofinwardly-extending tongues 73 carried by the carriage 32so that tiltingand dropping of the record is im-- possible. At the same time, the edgeof the record engages the upper end of a stationary guide member 74fastened to the framemembers 12 and 14 so that lateral movement of therecord is also impossible. When the -'re-' turn movement of the carriageis complete, the parts are brought to the position shown suitablysupported upon a casting 77 in turn carried by the frame members 11 and11a. The turn table is rotatable by means of a motor 78 in a well knownmanner. Adjacent the turn table 76 a transverse shaft 79 is journaledupon the frame members .11 and 11a and carries a pair of stop members80. An arm 81 is also carried upon the shaft 79. The arm 81 extends intothe path of a. block 82 carried by the bar 37; 'VVhen the carriage 32has brought the record. into position above the turn table 76, the block82 engages the arm 81, as illustrated in Fig. 4, thus bringing the stopmembers 80 into an upright position into the pa h of the record. Therecord is thereby preve ted from further movement during further travelof the carriage 32 so that the support members 71 are slipped frombeneath the record and the. record is allowed to drop upon the turntable in proper position for playing. In the return of the carriage, thesupport members 71 pass above the record upon the turn table.

Adjacent the turn table 76, a transverse shaft 83 is journaled upon theframe members 11" and 11a and carries an L-shaped member 84 having 1tsupper end normally positioned beneath the edge of the record 85 upon theturn table. Theshaft 83 also carries a cam 86 extending into'the path oftravel of a pin 87 carried byone of the links of the chain 31. Thecarriage 32 carries pivotally-mounted lugs 88 adapted to engage the edgeof the record 85 in the movement of the carriage 32 for removing thesaid record from the turn table. At the start of the movement ofcarriage 32 after playing of a record, the pin 87 engages the cam 86,causing the member 84 to beelevated totilt the edge of the record 85upwardly. In this tilting movement, the opposite edge of the recordrests upon a support member 89 carried by the casting 77 and the tiltingis suflicient to free the record fromv contact with the turn table andto clear the centering pin 90 of the turn table. When the record hasreached its tilted position, it is engaged by the lugs 88 and is pushedfrom the turn table thereby. At a point near the end of the left handmovement of the carriage 32, the record is deposited upon a tiltableapron 91 carried by a shaft 92 journaled upon the frame members 11 and11a. The shaft 92 also carries an arm 93, to the outer end ofwhichlispivotally connected a downwardly-extending link 94. The link 94is fitted at its lower end with a slotted noticed that the pm 105 doesnot engage the .ber 11 and universally supports a tone arm openingengaging a pin 96 carried upon a segmentally-shaped lever 97. The lever97 is freely rotatable upon a shaft 98 journaled I upon the' framemembers 13 and 13a. A link 99 is pivotally connected at one end to thelever 97 and at the opposite end'to the lower end of a lever 100. Thelever 100 is pivotally mounted by means ofa pin 101 upon a verticalmember 102 extending between the frame members 11 and 13. The shaft 98fixedly carries an arm 103 and a pair .of fingers 104. A pin 105 iscarried by the lever 97 and is adapted to engage the arm 103. A tensionspring 106 is fastened at one end to the lever 97 and at the oppositeend to the frame member 13 and serves normally to maintain the parts inthe position illustrated in Fig. 2 with the apron 91 in the horizontalposition illustrated in Fig. 3. The lever 100 is formed at its upper endwith a backwardlyextending portign 107 extending into the path of travelof the pin 108 upon which the roller 39 is mounted. I v I In the travelof the carriage 32, after a a record has been placed upon the apron 91,

the pin 108 engages the lever 100, moving the parts to the positionillustrated in Fig. 4. In this movement, the apron 91 is downwardlytilted and the record engages stop pins 109 carried thereby and is thusprevented from slipping during the tilting. It will be arm 103 until thelever 100 has been moved a predetermined distance. When this takesplace, the fingers 104 are upwardly moved to engage the record 110, thuspreventing the record from falling backward as the apron 91 assumes anearly vertical position. After the apron 91 swings beyond a verticalposition, the edge of the record 110 comes to rest upon a pair of'wires111 strung between brackets 112 carried by the frame members 14 and 14a.As the carriage commences its return movement, the parts are returned toj the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by the action of spring 106- andthe; record is brought to rest upon the wires '111 in the positionindicated'by thenumeral 113 in Fig. 3. In this position, the face of therecord which was uppermost during the playing is now lowermost so that,in the next playing of the record, the opposite face will be presentedfor playing.

A pair of transverse shafts 114 and 115 are journaled upon suitablebearings carried by frame members 13 and 13a. The shaft 114 carries asprocket 116 about which is trained A a chain 117 also trained about 'asprocket 118 carried by the shaft 17. The shaft 114 also carries a pairof sprockets 119 and the shaft 115 carries a similar pair of sprockets120. A pair of chains 121 are trained about the sprockets 119 and 120.The chains 117 and 121 are, therefore, moved in the direction of thearrows in Fig. 3 by the rotation of the of the said sprockets and thenumber of links in each chain are chosen so that each-chain makes acomplete revolution for each complete revolution of the chain 31. Eachof the chains 121 carries an attachment 122 adapted to engage the recordwhen in the position 113 and to propel the record toward the stack 42.The chain 117 carries a pair of rollers 123 adapted to engage thelowermost record in the stack and to thereby tilt the stack to permitentrance of the record there beneath. In the movement of the chains 117and 121, the rollers 123 travel across the face of the lowermost recordin the stack and the record 113 is moved by the attachments 122 inthe'wake of the rollers 123 and is thereby placed in position beneaththe stack. As shown in Fig. 9, the Wires 111 are fitted in grooves inthe upper surface of the support members 41. Thus the wires and themembers 41 form a continuous support for the stack of records and thissup-port is so positioned that there is no tendency for distortion ofthe lowermost record by theweight of the remainder of the records in thestack.

M echa-nism for tone arm manipulation A bracket 124 is fastened to theframe memelectric type connected by suitable wiringto an amplifier andreproducer, not shown. The tone arm has fastened to the undersidethereof an arcuate support member .128 extending into the path of anadjustably-positioned member 129 carried by the carriage 32.

vertical pin 130 is guided in a suitable opening in bracket 124 and hasa reduced portion 131 upon its upper end adapted to engage the lowersurface of the arcuate 'member 128 The lower end of the pin 130 issupported upon abracket 132 carried upon a lever 133. The lever 133 ispivotal-1y mounted by means of a pin 134 upon the frame member 11 andcarries at its outer end a roller 135 adapted to ride upon the uppersurface of the bar 37.

During the playing of a record, the roller engagement with the reducedupper end 131 hand travel of the carriage 32, the 'arcuate member 128has been mo-ved to bring a groove or recess 137 in the under surfacethereof into of the pin 130. By means of this engagement, the tone armis maintained in the proper position above the point for starting theplaying of the record. Upon the return of the car-- riage 32, the bar 37is moved to bring the depressed portion 136 thereof again intoengagement with the roller 135, permitting the tone arm to be gentlylowered into recordengaging position.

.E'lectrz'aal connections for actuation of redcord-ohanging motor andtum table m0- tor A bracket- 138. carried by the gear housing 18pivotally supportsalever 139 carrying a mercury switch 140. The'lever139 carries at one endan upwardly-extending member 141adapted to engagea downwardly-extend ing flexible member 142 carried by the por- Ition 34of carriage 32. -A lever 143 is pivotally mounted by means'of a pin 144upon the adjacent frame member 10 and is normally urged toward the left(Fig. 2) by a tensions spring 145. The lever143i's" formed with ashoulder ,146thereon and the upper end of said'd'ever is adapted toengage the beveled end 70 of the bar 37. In-the movement of the carriage32 to the' left, the flexible member 142 engages, the member 141-, thustilting the lever 139 so that the right hand end thereof reaches ahigher level than the shoulder146.

' Since the bar 37 has moved from its engage- 145, permitting the endoflever 139 to come to rest upon the shoulder 146. In this posimentwith; the upper end of lever 143, the said lever is moved to the leftby-the spring tion, the mercury switch 140 is in the closedcircuitposition. Upon the. return of the'carriage 32 the bar 37'engageslever 143, moving the same to the right and permitting the lever 139 todrop to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the mercuryswitch 140 is in the open circuit position. Thus the mer- :ury switch140 is in open circuit position only when the carriage 32 has completedits return to the initial position and for a short portion of the travelof the said carriage to the left.

A -lever 147 is pivotally mounted upon the frame member 13 and carries amercury switch 148. A spring 149 normally urges the lever 147 to theright against a stop pin 150 carried by the frame member 13. The upper'end of the lever 147 is in the path of travel of the bar 37 and'isengaged thereby near the completion of the travel of the carriage 32 tothe left. The mercury switch 148V 1 is normally in the closed circuitposition when the lever 147 is moved by engagement with the bar 37. Thusthe switch 148 is in the open circuit position only when the carriageisnear the left hand limit of its travel.

A mercur switch 151 is carried upon the outer end of a lever 152pivotally carried by means of a pin 153 upon the frame member '13. Thelever 152 has an upwardly-extending portion 154'extending Into the pathof travel of a slidable collar 155. The collar 155 is fastened to abarrel 156 having a similar collar 157 upon the opposite end thereof.The collars 155 and 157 and the barrel156 are slidable upon a horizontalrod 158' carried by brackets' 159 attached to the frame member 13. Avertical stem 160 is rotatably supported by a bracket 161 fastened tothe frame member 13 and extends through the bracket 124. The .saidstemis fastened to the tone arm .125 and is rotatable by the said tone armas it passes over the surface of the record. The stem 160 carries a'projecting arm 162 upon which is pivotally carried a d 163. The do 163has a rearwardly-exten ing'p'ortion a apted to engage the collar 157 anda forwardly-extending pointed portion 164 adapted to engage the collar155. The dog rides upon a stationary support member 165 fastened to theframe member 13. A bell crank 166 is pivotally mounted on oneofthe-brackets 159 and'ca'rries on itsvertical,

arm an adjustable pin 167 adapted to engage the collar 155. Thehorizontal arm of .the bell crank 166 rests u on a shoulder 168 upon theupwardly-extendlng portion 1540f lever 152. The said bell crank arm isformed with a shoulder 169 normally engaging the said portion of lever152.

' In the operation of the apparatus, at the I start of playing a record,the parts are'inthe position shown in Fig. 2.' As the playing of therecord progresses, the tone arm moves over the surface thereof rotatingthe stem 160 and moving the dog 163 to the right.- In this movement, thedog 163 is supported by the stationary support 165 preventing theforwardly-extending portion 164 from engaging the barrel 156 until ithas progressed to the collar 155 or nearly to that position. Furthertravel 'of the tone arm upon the record causes the. dog 163 to move theco ar 155, barrel 156 and collar 157 to the right. In this action,movement of the lever. 152 is prevented by the engagement of portion 154thereof with the shoulder 169. When the cbllar 155 is moveda suflicientdistance toengagethe pin 167, the bell crank 166 is rocked tions.

thereby, lifting the horizontal arm thereof and permitting the lever 152to drop, bringing the mercury switch 151 into closed circult position.If the record being played is of the type having a spiral brakinggroove, the a movement of the mercury switch 151 takes place only whenthe tone arm has reached the inner end of the braking groove at a pointclose to the center of the record. If the record is of the type havingan eccentric braking groove which oscillates the tone arm at thecompletion of playing of a record, the dog 163 is oscillated with thetone arm and the outer end 164 thereof engages threads 170 on the barrel156, thereby moving the said barrel and the collar 155 to actuate themercury switch 151. Upon the return of the tone arm 125 to the positionfor the commencement of playing, the dog 163 is brought into engagementwith the collar 157. The said collar, the barrel 156, and the collar 155are thereby returned .to their initial posi- In this action, the collar155 engages the upwardly-extending portion 154, moving the same to itsinitial position and permitting the bell crank 166 to drop into itsinitial position. By this mechanism, therefore, the mercury switch 151is moved to closed circuit position at the completion of playing of arecord and is maintained in that position until the carriage 32 hasmoved a suflicientdistance to bring the tone arm to its initial playingposition.

, A pair of wires 171 and 172 (Fig. 10) are connected to any suitablesource of electric current. The wire '171vleads to one terminal of aswitch 173 which may be a manually-operated snap switch or acoin-controlled switch as desired. The wire 171 also leads to oneterminal of the switch 148. The opposite terminals of the switches 173and 148 are connected by a wire 174 with one terminal of each of theswitches 151 and 140 and with one terminal of the turn table motor 78.The opposite terminals of each of the switches 140 and 151 are connectedby a ,wire 175 with one terminal of the record-changing motor 15. Thewire 17 2'is connected to the opposite terminals of the motors 78 and15.

During the playing of a record, the switches are in the positionillustrated in Fig. 10 and the snap switch 173 is normally in closedcircuit position. At the completion of playing of a record, the switch151 is tilted to closed circuit position, actuating the motor 15 bymeans of the following circuit: 171,

' 173 or 14s, 174,15'1,175,15,172. The travel of the carriage 32 and themovement of the remainder of the record-changing mechanism is therebystarted. When the said travel has progressed a short distance, theswitch 140 is tilted to closed circuit position by the engagement ofmembers 142'and 141 and since this switch is in parallelwith switch 151,the

circuit is maintained even after switch 151 has been moved to opencircuit position by the return of the tone arm to initial playingposition. Upon the return of carriage 32 to initial position, mercuryswitch 140 is tilted to open circuit position by engagement of bar 37with lever'143. The circuit is theresince the switch 148 also suppliesthe con- I nection for this motor. 7 At the completion of the left handtravel of the carriage 32, however, the switch 148 is moved to opencircuit position by the engagement of bar 37 with lever 147. Thecircuits for both motors are thereby broken, the motors are stopped andthe machine comes to rest. When the switch 173 is again moved to closedcircuit position, the record-changing cycle is resumed.-

The invention claimed is:

1. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a support for a stackof records. a member adapted to engage the undersurface of the lowermostrecord for tilting said stacl:

to permit entrance of a record therebeneath. and means for sliding arecord beneath said stack when so tilted.

2. In an automatic phonograph. the (ombination of a support for a stackof records.

a movable member adapted to travel beneath said stack. means for movingsaid member to engage the undersu face of the lowermost record fortilting said stack to permit entrance of a record therebeneath and formovmentioned record. and means for sliding a record beneath said stackwhen so tilted.

3. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a support for a stackof records. 1

ing said member from the path of said lastundersurfaceof the lowermostrecord and adapted totravel across said surface for lifting said stack,and means for sliding a record beneath said stack in the wake of themovement of said roller.

5. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a support for a stackof records, a retaining member adapted to be supported by the uppermostrecord in the stack and having a portion adapted to engage all of therecords therein except the uppermost for preventing the removal thereoffrom the stack, and means for sliding the uppermost record from thestack. 6. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a supportfor astack of records, a retaining member having a retaining portion adjacentone side of said stack and havmg a gauge portion adapted to rest uponthe uppermost record in the stack for supporting said member at theproper height for the upper edge of the retaining portion thereof toengage the edge "of the second highest rec:

0rd in the stack, and means for sliding said uppermost record from thestack over said retaining portion.

7. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a frame, a support fora stack of records, a retaining member having a gauge portion adapted toengage the upper surface of the uppermost record in the stack and ha inga retaining portion positioned to prevent removal from the stack of allbut said uppermost recoi'd, a substantially horizontally-dis posed linkhaving one end pivotally connected.

to said retaining member and the opposite end pivotally connected tosaid frame for preventing lateralmovement of said retaining thereof toengage the edge of the second highest record in the stack. asiibstantially horizontally-disposed link having one end pivotallyconnectedto said retaining member and the opposite end pivotallyconnected to said frame for preventing lateral movement of saidretaining member while permitting substantially vertical movementthereof, and means for sliding said uppermost record from the stack oversaid retaining portion.

9. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a support for a stackof records, a retainer adapted to prevent removal of all 1 but theuppermost of said records from the stack, an elevator, means for slidingthe uppermost record of the stack to a position above said elevator, amovable carriage. mechanism for moving said elevator to lift said recordto a position to be engaged by said carriage, a playing turn table, andmechanism for moving said carriage to engage said record and move thesameto said turn table.

10. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a support for astackof records,

'to said turn table.

a retaining member having a gauge portion 7 adapted to engage the uppersurface'of the uppermost record in the stack and having a retainingportion positionedto prevent removal from the stack of all but saiduppermost record, an elevator positioned immediatel'y adjacent saidstack, means for sliding the uppermost record upon said stack asuflicient distance to clear the gauge portion of said retaining memberand to bring a portion of said record above said elevator, a movablecarriage, mechanism for movin said elevator to lift said record to a'positlon to be engaged by said'carriage, a playing turn table, andmechanism for moving said carriage to engage said record and move thesame 11. In an automatic honograph the combination of a support or astack of records, a retaining member having a gauge portlon adapted toengage the upper surface ofothe uppermost record in'the stackand havinga retaining portion positioned to prevent removal from thestack ofallbut said uppermost record, an elevator having a pair ofoppositely-positioned record-supporting ortionshaving arcuate inneredges ad'apte to be positioned close to said stack, means for slidingthe uppermost record 11 on said stack a sufficient distance to cleart egauge por-- tion of. said retaining member and .to bring a portion ofsaid record above said elevator, a movable carriage, mechanism formoyingsaid elevator to lift said rcordto a position to be engaged bysaid carriage, a playin turn table, and mechanism for moving saicarriage to engage said record and movethe same to-said turn table. 12.In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a frame, a carriagemovable upon said frame, an elevator adapted to lift a record toapredetermined level, record-supporting members carried by said carriage,

the record-supporting surfaces thereof being slightly higher than saidpredetermined level and said members having bevelled portions adapted toengage a record upon said elevator in the movement of said carriage andto lift the same to rest'upon said members, astop memberadapted toengagethe record for preventing lateral motion thereof during said lifting, aplaying turn table, and means for moving said carriage to bring saidrecordsupportihg members into engagementwith said record and tothereafter transport'said record to said turn table. I 'j 13. In anautomatic phonograph, the combination of a frame, a carriage movableupon said frame, an elevator adapted to lift a record to a predeterminedlevel, record-sup: porting members carried by said carriage, therecord-supporting surfaces thereof being slightly higher than saidpredetermined level and said members having bevelled portions adapted toengage a record upon said elevator in the movement of said carriage andto lift the same to rest upon said members, a stop member adapted toengage the record for preventing lateral motion thereof during saidlifting, a playing turn table, means for moving said carriage to bringsaid record-supporting members into engagei'nent with said record and tothereafter transport said record to said turn table, and members carriedby said carriage adapted to engage the upper surface of said record forsteadying the same during transportation thereof;

14. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a frame, a carriagemovable thereon, record-supporting members carried by,

said carriage, a playing turn table, means for moving said carriagetobring a record carried thereby to a pgsition above said turn table, stopmembers adapted to engage said record when said position has beenreached to prevent further movement thereof, whereby.,further movementof said carriage slides said supporting members from beneath said recordallowing the same to drop upon said turn table, members carried by saidcarriage for pushing said record from the turn table upon the nextsucceeding movement of said carriage, andmeans for retaining said stopmembers in record-stopping position when a record is moved. to theturntable, said means being inoperative when a record is removed,

from the turn table.

15. In an automatic phonograph, the com bination of a playing turntable, a movable carriage,record-supporting members carried by saidcarriage, record-pushing members carried by said carriage, means formoving said carriage to bring said pushing members into engagement witha record on said turn table to move said record from said turn table andto bring a second record carried by said record-supporting members intoposition above said turn table, stop members in the path of said recordsand normally freely movable from said path when engaged by the record,whereby removal of the record from the turn table is not impeded, andmechanism operable at a predetermined point in the travel of saidcarriage to retain said stop membersin said path to engage the recordbeing moved to saidturn table, whereby further movement of said carriageslides said supporting members from beneath said record allowing thesame to drop upon said turn table.

16. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a playing turn table,a movable carriage, record-supporting members carried by said carriage,record-pushing members carried by said carriage, means for moving saidcarriage to bring said pushing members into engagement with a record onsaid turn table to move said record from said turn table and to bring asecond record carried by said record-supporting members into positionabove said turn table, and stop members movable from the path of saidrecords during the removal of a record from the turn table and movableinto the path of said records to ensaid carriage to bring said pushingmembers into engagement with a record on said turn table to move saidrecord form said turn table and to bring a second record carried by saidrecord-supporting members into position above said turn table, stopmembers inthe path of said records and normally freely movable from saidpath whenengaged by the record, whereby removal of the record from theturn table is not impeded, an operating arm connected to said stopmembers, and a member carried by said carriage and engageable with saidoperating arm at a predetermined point in the travel of said" carriageto retain said stop members in position to engage the. record beingmoved to the turn table, whereby further movement of said carriageslides said supporting members from beneath said record allowing thesame to drop .upon' said turn table.

18. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a playing turn tablehaving a rec ord-centering pin, a movable carriage havingrecord-engagingmembers, a record-tilting member adapted to engage the undersurface of arecord upon said turn table at a point adjacent one edge thereof, meansfor moving said carriage to bring saidrecordwith said record forremoving the same from the turn, table, a record-tilting member vadapted to engage the undersurface of a rec v 0rd upon said turn tableat a point adjacent one edge thereof, a stationary support memtheopposite edge to rest upon said stationary support member, saidelevation being su ficient to remove saidrecord from contact with saidturn table and to clear said centering pin for removal of the record.

20. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a frame, a tone armuniversally mounted upon said frame, a support member carried by saidtone arm, said member having a substantially horizontal undersurface, avertical stem slidably guided upon a portion of said frame, a leverpivotally supported upon said frame and having a portion adapted toengage the lower end of said stem for supporting the same, a playingturn table, amovable carriage for moving records to said turn table forlaying, an irregularly shaped member mova le with said carriage andadapted to engage said lever at a predetermined position in its traveland -to thereby lift'said lever to elevate said stem to bring the upperend thereof into engagement with the undersurface of said support memberfor elevating said tone arm, and means carried by said carriage formoving said tone arm and support member when so elevated, to slide saidsupport member upon the upper end of said stem to bring said tone arminto position above the point for start of playing of a record on saidturn table.

21. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a frame, a tone armuniversally mounted upon said frame, a support member fastened to saidtone arm, said member having a substantially horizontal undersurfacehaving a recess therein, a vertical stem slidably guided upon a portionof said frame, a lever pivotally supported upon said frame and having aportion adapted to engage the lower end of said stem for supporting thesame, a playing turn table, a movable carriage for moving records tosaid turn table for playing, an irregularly-shaped member movable withsaid carriage and adapted to engage said lever at a predeterminedposition in its travel and to thereby lift said lever to elevate saidstem to bring the upper end thereof into engagement with theundersurface of said support member for elevating said tone arm, and anelement-carried by said carriage adapted to move said tone arm andsupport member when so elevated to slide said support member upon theupper end of said stem to bring said recess into engagement with theupper end of said stem, the parts being so proportioned that saidengagement takes place when the tone arm has reached a position abovethe point for start of playingof a record on said turn table.

22. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a tone arm, a dog,means operatively connecting said dog and tone arm for movement of saiddog by the movement of said tone arm in the playing of a record,electrically operated record changing and tone arm returning mechanism,a switch device for initiating the actuation of said mechanism, anaxially slidable barrel adapted to engage and actuate said switchdevice, said barrel having a collar at each end, one of said collarsbeing engageable by said dog for moving said barrel to engage andactuate said switch device and the other of said collars beingengageable by said dog for returning said barrel to initial positionupon the return of said tone arm'to initial position, said collars beingspaced apart a greater distance than the length of said dog so that apredetermined initial movement of said tone arm in either direction isrequired before movement of said barrel takes place, threads formed onsaid barrel between said collars and engageable by said dog for movingsaid barrel to actuate said switch device, and means for preventingengagement of said dog and threads during the initial art of the tonearm travel in the playing 0 a record, whereby said engagement can onlybe made by oscillation of the tone arm and dog during the final part ofsaid travel.

23. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a tone arm, a dog,means operatively connecting said dog and tone arm for movement of saiddog by the movement of said tone arm in the playing of a record, rec-0rd changing and tone arm returning mechanism, a device for initiatingthe action of 1 said mechanism, a movable member adapted to engage andactuate said device, said member having a portion engageable by said dogfor movement thereof for actuating said device and another portionengageable for returning said member to initial position upon the returnof said tone arm to initial position, said portions being so spaced thata predetermined initial movement of the tone arm in either direction isrequired before engagement thereof, another portion formed on saidmovable member engageable by said dog for moving said member to actuatesaid device, and means for preventing, said last mentioned engagementduring the initial part of the tone arm travel in the playing of arecord, whereby said engagement can only be made by oscillation of saidtone arm and dog during the final part of said travel.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature. v THOMAS W.SMALL.

